Evaluating CSOSA's Day Reporting Center intervention to reduce recidivism

Recidivism

This proposal is conducting a study using intervention and community orientated strategies to reduce recidivism rates. According to the Justice Department, these levels are at 43.8%. This is because the individual breaks the conditions of their parole / probation or commits new crimes within three years of their release. ("State of Recidivism," 2006) To reduce recidivism a new approach must be taken that will concentrate on dealing with the root causes. The evaluation method will be the qualitative system. This is when there is an examination of different sources and the underlying trends. (Pratt, 2006) The organization that will be studied is the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA). The total costs for conducting the evaluation will be $20 thousand. Once this takes place, is when actuaries will illustrate those techniques which can reduce recidivism. This will enhance the ability of the CSOSA to achieve its primary objectives.

Agency Overview

The CSOSA is focused on dealing with the 3,200 offenders that are released into the Washington DC region every year. Their objectives are to work with former convicts in learning new skills and becoming law abiding citizens. Moreover, they monitor defendants who are in the middle of criminal proceedings and are awaiting the outcomes. The primary mission is to reach out to these demographics prior to conducting any kind of activities that will violate their parole or probation. This enhances public safety by having a program which is actively watching cliental. ("Mission and Goals," 2012)

There are several primary goals of the CSOSA to include:

Public safety: This is when the organization wants to have programs that will prevent someone from harming members of the community. The way that this is accomplished is through having strict accountability and successfully integrating former convicts back into society. ("Mission and Goals," 2012)

The fair administration of justice: The CSOSA is dedicated to providing timely and accurate information to decision makers about cliental. This helps them to determine the impact of the program and avoids unnecessarily sending someone to jail. ("Mission and Goals," 2012)

This is showing how the agency is focused on preventing convicts from engaging in self-abusive patterns (which can negatively impact the community). ("Mission and Goals," 2012)

The Day Reporting Center is the program that we will be evaluating. This is an onsite location where former convicts can be able to transition back into society. The various kinds of services that are provided include: mental health, educational, vocational and employment opportunities. The primary objectives are to offer cliental with a place that will help them to learn new strategies for interacting with society. At the same time, there is a focus on: maintaining stable housing, finding / retaining meaningful work, reconnecting with families and learning vocational skills. In the future, this prevents them from going back into the prison system (resulting in negative effects on those around them and for the taxpayers). ("Day Reporting Center," 2012)

Descriptive Statement

In the research project we will be evaluating the overall impact of current approaches on recidivism rates. This will help us to see the effects of these programs and how they adding to the problems with the criminal justice system. The information that is uncovered during this process will be used to highlight the current trends.

Once this takes place, is when the research will focus on alternative programs that are reducing recidivism levels. This will illustrate new initiatives that could be introduced and have a positive impact on the CSOSA. The information that is uncovered will help to address the current challenges.

Evidence of this can be seen with observations from Visher (2003) who said, "According to a national study, within 3 years, almost 7 in 10 will have been rearrested and half will be back in prison, either for a new crime or for violating conditions of their release. Clearly, an individual's transition from prison back into a home and into a community is difficult, and avoiding crime can be the least of his or her problems. Understanding these pathways and the reasons for and the dimensions of an individual's success or failure is the focus of recent scholarly attention to the problem of 'prisoner reentry,' the process of leaving prison and returning to free society. However, most of the existing research on prisoners' lives after release focuses solely on recidivism and ignores the reality that recidivism is directly affected by post prison reintegration and adjustment, which, in turn, depends on four sets of factors: personal and situational characteristics, including the individual's social environment of peers, family, community, and state-level policies." This is illustrating how the status quo is failing to understand the root causes of the problem. Instead, alternative approaches must be examined that will address the weaknesses with the current policies.

The findings will establish a series of initiatives that can be used in different municipalities around the country. This is accomplished by identifying those programs that are successful and then augmenting them with others. In the future, this will provide governmental entities and nonprofit organizations with a foundation for dealing with recidivism and repeat offenders. Those who will benefit from the study include: the general public, law enforcement, the criminal justice system and the offenders. The program will be focused on how the findings can be enacted from a macroeconomic level. (Visher, 2003)

What you will measure?

During the evaluation, there will be a concentration on identifying the general trends for alternative programs in dealing with recidivism rates. This will establish the fact that these kinds of programs are effective in dealing with the underlying causes. While at the same time, there will be a focus on specific programs and the strategies they are using successfully. This will be measured by comparing the impact of their services in conjunction with crime rates in the area. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

Moreover, there will be an emphasis on those jurisdictions with sudden decreases in recidivism. This is based on the fact that some ground breaking initiatives could be introduced. But, it has not been fully reported from the continuing testing that is taking place. These areas will improve the study by helping researchers to see what is working and in determining how they can be implemented by the CSOSA's Day Reporting Center. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

How you will measure it (operationalization)?

Like what was stated previously, the effectiveness of the program will be measured by examining the impact it is having crime rates and recidivism. This will be accomplished by looking at these programs and how they are dealing with specific problems. At the same time, interviews will be conducted with community leaders, employees, law enforcement and judges / lawyers. This will help to provide a balanced perspective as to the long-term impacts of the program on everyone. The way the trends will be measured is through using qualitative research to understand the overall scope of the problem and how the program is addressing them. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

What instrument(s) will you use? (Discuss the instrument).

There will be a number of instruments used during the process of conducting the research. The most notable will be observational analysis. This is when various findings from different studies and programs are examined. The underlying trends will provide actuaries with a background of how to establish successful recidivism reduction programs. While at the same time, it is also providing working models that can be implemented. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

Another instrument that will be used is interviews. This will take place through discussing with select individuals their ideas and opinions about how to deal with recidivism. The various subjects can provide a range of beliefs about the best approaches for addressing these issues. This will improve the accuracy of the research and enhance objectivity. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

How will you collect the data?

The data will be collected through the observational method that was discussed earlier. A tremendous amount of information will also be obtained by conducting interviews of various individuals from a variety of backgrounds. This will enhance the objectivity and quality of the research. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

What is the time period covered by the evaluation plan? Include a timeline.

The basic time frame will take between three and four months to complete. This will be achieved by having the research divided into a series of stages to include:

Phase 1: During this stage, the data will be collected by carefully examining different sources and the outcomes of various programs on the community. This will be used as a basic foundation for establishing trends and what approaches are effective in reducing recidivism. The time frame for this part of the project will last for one month. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

Phase 2: In this stage, actuaries will conduct interviews and talk to a variety of individuals about different programs. This will improve the accuracy of the research by looking at numerous perspectives. Moreover, this is helping to enhance everyone's understanding of the problem and its root causes. This is point that study can yield findings which can be implemented with the CSOSA's Day Reporting Center. In the future, the overall amounts of success, will establish a model that can be used around the country by other communities. The time frame involved with this step is one month. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

Phase 3: This stage will focus on analyzing the trends and understanding the patterns that have been identified. This will allow actuaries to make specific recommendations when enacting any kind of anti-recidivism programs. Moreover, it is providing insights about how to establish and sustain these initiatives during periods of continuing budgetary challenges. This process will take from one to two months to complete. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

These elements will ensure that everyone maintains a certain amount of objectivity and focus on enhancing the conclusions. This is the point that the CSOSA will be more effective in reaching its goals. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

How will you analyze data?

The data will be analyzed using comparative analysis. This is when researchers will look at the different trends and corroborate the findings with each other. Anything that does not fit with the general trends will be disregarded as an anomaly. This will enhance the quality of information and conclusions that are reached. (Spitzlinger, 2010)

Dissemination Plan & Implications to Social Work Practice

The research will be distributed to various personnel throughout the CSOSA. At the same time, it will be sent to all department heads and everyone working in a supervisory position. This will establish an initial audience who is targeted by the information. Then, there will be a focus on having community groups, law enforcement and judicial officials examine the conclusions. This will start a debate about the best approaches for dealing with recidivism.

Next, there will be a focus on distributing the research to other criminologists, governmental / community organizations and nonprofits. During this process, there will be an emphasis on having these findings published for others to carefully examine. This will encourage new studies which can build off of the conclusions from our study. Once this happens, is when the research can be used to help a variety of communities and other organizations address recidivism.

The research has the possibility of changing the way social workers are interacting with clients. This is because the approach of the study is to identify and recommend those strategies that have been shown to be the most effective. When this takes place, there will be transformations in the practices, techniques and environment of social workers.

Over the long-term, this will lead to changes in the kinds of tools that are used to deal with recidivism. This is when the CSOSA can achieve its mission and objectives (i.e. protecting the public / the fair administration of justice). These ideas will improve our practices by ensuring that the Day Reporting Center is more responsive to the needs of stakeholders.